Bharati Dubey (MID-DAY; June 3, 2014)

Priyanka Chopra may have sent her former boyfriend, Aseem Merchant, a legal notice in a bid to stop him from making a biopic on her former manager Prakash Jaju, but it looks like Merchant is in no mood to buckle under pressure.

Merchant says, “ We are going ahead with the project and we do not want to succumb to any pressure tactics. We have already replied to her notice.’’

The producer’s lawyer, Alankar Kripkekar, says that Merchant is going ahead with his plans of making a biopic on Prakash Jaju who was Priyanka Chopra’s former business manager. He says, “I can only say that we have the rights to Jaju’s biopic, 67 days, and we are going ahead with the project. Withdrawing publicity material of the film is simply not true. The film is in its nascent stage right now, as we have not yet written the script of the film. As for defamation, why would we want to defame anyone? It is Prakash Jaju’s story and we are going to stick to it.’’ On his part, Aseem emphasises that he is not seeking anyone else’s approval for the project. “We have bought the rights of Prakash Jaju’s biopic. So no, I am not showing the film’s script to anyone.’’

It may be noted here that Priyanka’s lawyer has sent a legal notice to Aseem Merchant stating that the biopic on Jaju alludes to the actress and dwells heavily on her personal and professional life. In her notice, she has also stated that the publicity material of the film should be withdrawn and no personal or confidential information about her or her family should be mentioned.

In the past
Prakash Jaju and Priyanka had a fallout in 2008 which led to Jaju getting arrested. Following this, he spent 67 days in jail. The film will apparently tell his story about the jail term.

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; June 2, 2014)

Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 9, 2014)

It’s final. The role of Priyanka Chopra, in the film based on her life, will be played by newbie Sakshi Chaudhary. The film is adapted from the book penned by her former secretary Prakash Jaju. But before 67 Days, Sakshi will be seen opposite John Abraham in the next instalment of the Hera Pheri franchise.

Says a source close to the project, “She will play the role after studying PC’s movies very closely. Sakshi is not a movie buff. But Aseem Merchant (the producer and Priyanka’s former boyfriend) wants her to adopt PC’s body language and mannerisms. There will also be an attempt to recreate some of PC’s early songs and dances from Andaaz and Aitraaz.”

Sakshi says, “Yes, I am playing the part in the film. I guess they thought I was suitable for it. I was never star-struck. But PC is a good actress. Hopefully I will play a good actress well.”

As for reports of Priyanka being miffed by this film, Aseem defends his creative freedom arguing, “The film is about Jaju, not Priyanka. It is about his experiences in Bollywood and will cover the entire entertainment industry. I respect and admire Priyanka. In no way, I am trying to malign or hurt her. As a producer I am only trying to make a realistic film.”

Subhash K Jha (DNA; May 5, 2014)

While it is known that Priyanka Chopra’s one-time live-in boyfriend Aseem Merchant is all set to produce a film based on her early days, it is not clear if the film — to be entitled 67 Days — is actually about her
relationship or bitter parting from her former secretary and business manager Prakash Jaju.

Says a source close to the project, “Jaju was accused of harassing the actress. They claimed he made threatening abusive calls to her. Jaju claims Priyanka and her father framed him. He claims the late Dr Chopra told the police that Jaju threatened the father and daughter from a landline number. But no phone number was given in the police complaint. He says that his lawyer was manipulated and that powerful political elements helped Priyanka’s father to put him in jail. His family couldn’t fight back as his father was bed-ridden.”

In jail for 67 days, Jaju wrote out his story which will now be made into a film. Says the source, “All the incidents in 67 Days will be based on reality. Earlier, he couldn’t fight back. Today he’s much better placed and able to understand and analyse what he went through. Jaju is very angry for what he sees as gross injustice. He hopes to get delayed justice through this film.”

While it isn’t decided who will play Priyanka, we hear Paoli Dam has been approached. Jaju’s role is likely to be played by Randeep Hooda or Irrfan Khan.

Vickey Lalwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; May 2, 2014)

Priyanka Chopra’s former love interest Aseem Merchant who had disappeared from Bollywood, is back. He has launched a production house, Limelight Motion Pictures Pvt Ltd, and its first film will chronicle Priyanka’s first few years in B-Town.

Aseem describes the film as a "biopic of Priyanka’s ex-manager Prakash Jaju". Jaju and the actress had a fallout in 2004 which led to Jaju being arrested and imprisoned for 67 days in 2008. According to Jaju, the actress owed him a huge amount of money and refused to clear his dues. The situation worsened when Jaju allegedly started interfering in Priyanka’s personal life. This led to her father (late) Dr Ashok Chopra filing an FIR against Jaju, stating that he was not only making false allegations against his daughter but also threatening the family members. Jaju went into hiding and was finally arrested from Mau, Madhya Pradesh.

Aseem knew Priyanka since her modelling days. They were together when she won the Miss World crown in 2000. Two years later, they parted ways. When asked if someone would play him in the film as well, he said, “The film will depict everybody who interacted with Jaju while he was working with Priyanka.” Mirror has it that Aseem and Jaju have been in touch with each other for more than a decade.

Won’t Priyanka be upset? “My association with Priyanka is long over. I have started a company to make films. My second film may upset someone else,” he retorted, adding, “Priyanka is a lovely person and I am proud of her.”

Commenting on the film, Jaju said: “I’m fine with Aseem’s film. It chronicles Priyanka’s life from the day she entered the film industry till I was put in jail. There will be actors who portray Hema Malini, Sridevi and Jackie Shroff too since I handled their work, before turning into a fund manager. It was only because Priyanka’s father insisted that I take up her work that I returned to Bollywood.”

Aseem insists he would neither sensationalise nor fictionalise the story. “We are in the process of finalising a competent director,” he concluded. Priyanka remained unavailable for comment.